The wife of former Leeds United footballer Clarke Carlisle has said she has been “overwhelmed” by messages of support since her husband was seriously injured in a collision with a lorry.

Gemma Carlisle tweeted her thanks to supporters after Carlisle, 35, was taken to hospital following the collision on the A64, near York, on Monday morning.

Footballers, former clubs, organisations and charities were among well-wishers who have used social media to send messages hoping former Professional Footballers’ Association chairman Carlisle makes a quick recovery.

Mrs Carlisle said in her tweet: “Don’t normally use this account anymore. But have been overwhelmed with your thoughts and prayers. Thank you”

Mrs Carlisle later said her husband is in a stable condition.

She tweeted: “Clarke’s very poorly but he’s alive and stable. Best Christmas gift we as a family could wish for. Thanks again.”

The PFA said it had visited Carlisle in hospital and pledged its help and support to him and his family.

North Yorkshire Police would not confirm the injured man’s identity but have appealed for witnesses to the collision on the A64 near the village of Bishopthorpe, at 7.30am yesterday.

A force spokeswoman said: “The collision involved a male pedestrian and a lorry. The injured man has been airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary with serious injuries. The road was closed to allow the air ambulance to land and to allow collision investigators to examine the scene.”

Carlisle played in defence for a number of other clubs including Blackpool, QPR and Burnley.

After Carlisle stopped playing, he worked for the PFA and was also a regular on TV, as a contestant on the long-running Channel 4 quiz show Countdown and a guest on BBC’s Question Time.